Getting Started with Magento Extension Development

This practical guide to building Magento modules from scratch takes you step-by-step through the whole process, from first principles to practical development. At the end of it you’ll have acquired expertise based on thorough understanding.

Getting Started with Magento Extension Development

Progressing

Branko AjzeleSeptember 2013

This practical guide to building Magento modules from scratch takes you step-by-step through the whole process, from first principles to practical development. At the end of it you’ll have acquired expertise based on thorough understanding.

Book Details

ISBN 139781783280391

Paperback128 pages

Book Description

Modules, are a group of php and xml files meant to extend the system with new functionality, or override core system behavior. Most of the base Magento system is built using the module system, so you can see why they are an important feature for this rich open-source e-commerce solutions. This book explores key module development techniques and teaches you to modify, understand and structure your modules making it easy for you to get a strong foundation for clean and unobtrusive Magento module development.

Getting Started with Magento Extension Development is a practical, hands-on guide to building Magento modules from scratch. This book provides an in depth introduction and helps you discover features such as; blocks, controllers, models, configuration files, and other crucial elements which contribute to the Magento architecture. This book introduces the you to real-world modules and helps provide a strong foundation which you need to become a professional Magento module developer. The book further explores best practices and tips and tricks offering you the ultimate go to guide.

Getting Started with Magento Extension Development focuses on three areas. First you are guided through the entire Magento structure, where each important directory or file is explored in detail. Then the essence of the module structure and development is explained through the detailed coverage of models, blocks, controllers, configuration, and other files that manifest a single module. Finally, a detailed set of instructions is given for building four real-world modules, including a payment and shipping module.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: An Overview of Magento Extensions

The root directory structure

Code pools

The theme system

Basic extension configuration

Controllers

Blocks

The model, resource, and collection

The event/observer pattern

Cron jobs

Helpers

System configuration options

Summary

Chapter 2: Building the Extension – Maximum Order Amount

Planning your extension

Registering your extension

Building the configuration options interface

Adding the business logic

Summary

Chapter 3: Building the Extension – Logger

Planning your extension

Registering your extension

Summary

Chapter 4: Building the Extension – Shipping

Shipping methods

Planning your extension

Registering your extension

Dissecting the existing shipping method

Defining your shipping method

Adding the business logic

Summary

Chapter 5: Building the Extension – Payment

Payment methods

Planning your extension

Registering your extension

Dissecting the existing payment method

Defining your payment method

Extension business logic

Summary

Chapter 6: Packaging and Publishing Your Extension

Magento Connect

Packaging your extension

Creating an extension profile

Uploading the extension package

Summary

What You Will Learn

Explore the module structure

Learn about Block classes, Model classes, and Controller classes

Get to grips with Configuration files

Understand the importance of Event/Observer programming

Learn CRON jobs

Discover the key module functionality

Authors

Branko Ajzele

Branko Ajzele was born in January 1983 and lives in Osijek, Croatia. He is a husband, father of two, book author, and software developer. He holds a faculty degree in electrical engineering. He loves all things digital and makes a living out of software development.

Branko has years of hands-on experience in full-time software development and team management and specializes in e-commerce platforms. He has worked with Magento since 2008, knee-deep since its very first beta version. He is regularly in touch with modern software development technologies.

He has strong technical knowledge and is able to communicate technicalities clearly with strong direction. He feels comfortable proposing alternatives to demands that he feels can be improved, even when this means pulling a late shift to meet deadlines.

Instant E-Commerce with Magento: Build a Shop by Packt Publishing was his first Magento-related book oriented toward Magento newcomers, after which he decided to write Getting Started with Magento Extension Development for developers. His third book, Magento 2 Developer's Guide, covers Magento 2 e-commerce platform development.

He currently works as a full-time contractor for Lab Lateral Ltd.—an award-winning team of innovative thinkers, artists, and developers, specializing in customer-centric websites, digital consultancy, and marketing—as the lead Magento developer and head of the Lab's Croatia office.

Branko was crowned E-commerce Developer of the Year by Digital Entrepreneur Awards in October 2014 for his excellent knowledge and expertise in e-commerce development. His work is second to none, and is truly dedicated to helping the Lab Lateral Ltd. team and fellow developers across the world.

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